7 Months!

This post is a little late.  I blame it on the turkey coma I have been in since Thanksgiving.  That and I had a 40 page group proposal to write for my class that was due last week.  I am thankful to be done with that!  Here are some other things I am thankful for...

Our little turkey is 7 months old!  We tackled quite a few milestones this month.  Here are some highlights:

• He is officially mobile!  He started crawling about a week after his 6 month mark.
• He is eating his veggies!  After he got over experiencing a new texture, he has begun to enjoy his veggies.  Which brings us to the next milestone...
• His first solid poopies!  Your welcome.  I know you are glad I shared.
• He now has 2 teeth!  The bottom right one came in and then over Thanksgiving his tooth got a neighbor.
• He started pulling up to a standing position.  Now, nothing on the coffee table is safe.  Just today he pulled a whole cup of tea off and onto his face.  Luckily, the tea was cold.  I'm super thankful I could learn this lesson with cold tea!
• He's started saying "dadadada" and "babababa."  
• He likes to yell and wave both of his arms in a helicopter like motion.  
• He is overall a fun and happy little guy.   

Here is our little 7 month-old turkey...

And we are off...




Go turkey, go, gobble, gobble, gobble...




This cute turkey outfit was made by his auntie Beth.  He actually got 2 turkey outfits because his other Auntie Kristen saw the idea on Pinterest too. She made him another one without knowing his other Auntie had the same idea.  Great Aunts think alike!

Here we are in our other turkey outfits right before we ran in the 8 mile Turkey Trot!  We all ran the whole thing, finished under 1 hour and 30 minutes, and none of us trained.  Needless to say we were all a little stiff later, but we earned our turkey dinner!

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!  We have lots to be thankful for this year.  We are especially thankful for all our friends and family!  Much love to all of you... you know who you are... yeah, even you.

Eating His Vegetables!

The craziest thing happened... Michael started eating his vegetables and he grew some major hair!  And I thought he was going to be a blond...

Fall Photos

Here are just some cute recent pics...

He likes to roll all the way over on the changing table.


He is sitting up like a big boy!



We dressed up for Halloween... Here is our Super Baby!




We also went to the pumpkin patch to snap some photos.

 Happy Fall Everyone!

Beautiful You

Below are the lyrics of the song "More Beautiful You" by Johnny Diaz.  The song expresses so perfectly an important message that I want my children to know and believe.  They are beautiful just the way God made them.  I probably heard this when I was younger, but I sure did not believe it until much later in life and after many mistakes.  Living up to unfair standards set by the world, trying to find love and acceptance in empty places, and constantly being unsatisfied with how God made me led to lots of heartbreaks and mistakes.  I hope to spare my children the heart ache, and instead believe what I have come to know, God has perfectly crafted me into a unique masterpiece in order to fulfill a purpose that only I can do. 


"More Beautiful You" Johnny Diaz


Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn't straight, her body isn't fake
And she's always felt overweight

Well, little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care, your skin, your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

Little girl twenty one the things that you've already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but He's got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead

Well, little girl twenty one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And He'll treat you like the jewel you are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you, more beautiful you

So turn around you're not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It's not too late, you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear, they can all be washed away

By the one who's strong, can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears, dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light, He will show you truth
And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl

That there could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you
There could never be a more beautiful you

6 Months!

Michael is already a half a year old yet, he is only a half a year old.  The time goes by so fast, but there is still so much to enjoy.  I have to remind myself not to wish for the next stage, but to enjoy the fleeting, precious moments that I have in the present.  It has been a joy to watch this boy grow.  Here are some highlights:

Weight: 19 pounds, 3 ounces

Height: 28 inches

He is sitting up on his own, but occasionally falls over.

He gets up on all fours often and rocks back and forth.  He is about to crawl at any moment!

He grabs for everything!

He tried a couple bites of avocado and rice cereal.  Neither seems to be his favorite, but it causes him to make really funny faces so we will keep trying :-)

He is sleeping pretty regularly from 8:30-5:30, feeds, and then goes back to sleep until 8:30.

He is very vocal and has learned to turn up the volume.

His go to sounds are "bob bob bob" and he has said "mommmama" which I'm pretty sure is a coincidence, but I can pretend he's saying, "mom."

He gets very giggly when tired.

He is interested in everything that is going on around him.

He loves watching Hugo get the ball.

He flew for the second time and he played peekaboo with the neighbor on the way there and slept the whole way back.  He is a great little traveler.

And here he is, the moment you've been waiting for... the man of the hour... the piece de resistance...

Mr. Michael Skypala!!

25 Prayers for My Husband

I was browsing on Pinterest the other day and usually it just fuels my materialism, but I found this sweet "pin" and thought I would share because we all know our husbands need prayer :-)  (The original link came from here- http://seejamieblog.com/2011/09/25-prayers-for-my-husband/ check it out, she has a printer friendly version) I know praying for Gabe is important and things just seem to line up better when I do, but sometimes my prayers seem unfocused, repetitive, and lacking.  This list helps touch on many things that I sometimes neglect to pray for.  I hope it can encourage someone else like it did for me!   

25 Prayers for My Husband

I pray…

1. that he continues to grow spiritually through the disciplines of Bible study, prayer, and quiet times. (Proverbs 4:23)
2. that his relationship with God will bear much fruit in his life, and that he will be a man who seeks wisdom and understanding. (Proverbs 3:7, Psalm 112:1)
3. that he would walk humbly with God, and would always be convicted quickly about any sin in his life. (Micah 6:8)
4. that he will continue to grow as the leader of our family, and that God would be glorified in our marriage. (Ephesians 5:25-29)
5. that he would have a teachable spirit and a servant’s heart, and that he will listen to God and desire to do His will. (Proverbs 15:33)
6. that he would always look to the way of escape from any kind of temptation, and that he would rely on God to remain faithful to our marriage, and to God. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
7. that he would safeguard his heart against inappropriate relationships with the opposite sex, and this heart would pure and undivided in his commitment to me and to our marriage. (Proverbs 6:23-25)
8. that he would continue to be able to provide for our family, and that he will not become discouraged by doing work he does not enjoy.
9. that money would never become a source of discord in our family, and that we would be wise in handling finances and in stewardship. (Luke 16:13)
10. that the words he speaks will build our family, and reflect a heart of love. (Proverbs 18:21)
11. that our physical intimacy would be a positive reflection of selfless love. (Song of Solomon 7:10)
12. that the men in his life would encourage his accountability before God, and that he would be a godly influence on his friends and coworkers. (Proverbs 13:20, 27:17)
13. that he would choose healthy foods and activities, and honor God by taking the best possible care of his body as the tabernacle of God. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
14. for his strength — physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. (Ephesians 3:16)
15. for him to have wisdom and discernment in training/disciplining our children, and that You would enable him to love them unconditionally. (Ephesians 6:4)
16. that he would always have an eternal perspective, and make the most of however much time he has in this life. (Ephesians 5:16)
17. that he would always be a man of peace, who allows the Holy Spirit to lead his responses in all situations. (Romans 14:19)
18. that he would have a balanced life in regards to work and play, and that he would submit his schedule to You. (Proverbs 16:9)
19. for him to find favor with the Lord, but also with people he knows and interacts with. (Luke 2:52)
20. that he would enjoy peace and refreshment in his relationship with the Lord. (Psalm 16:11)
21. that he would always be courageous in his stand against evil and injustice, and that he will protect our family from Satan’s attacks. (Ephesians 6:13)
22. that he would be a man of prayer, seeking God in purposeful ways. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
23. that he will serve God and others with pure motives, and that God would be glorified in everything he does. (Colossians 3:23-24)
24. that he would offer all this dreams to the Lord, and pursue only those that bring God glory, and that count for eternity. (Jeremiah 29:11)
25. that he will recognize the lies of the enemy in his life, and that he will always be guided by the Truth. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

What We've Been Up To

We have been having fun over the last couple months. Here are some things that we have been doing...

Gabe and I completed our first sprint triathlon (400 meter swim, 9 mile bike, 5K run).  It was the annual Tri To Make a Difference event.  The Lynch's are the sweet family who began this race.  They were inspired by their precious son, Thomas, who was born with a rare seizure disorder. 100% of the proceeds benefit the children's miracle network. It was a great event and I will definitely do it again!

The Lynch's



And by the way...  I finished in 1 hr 20 minutes; Gabe's time 1 hr 25 minutes.  Yep, that's right, I beat Gabe.  Better luck next year babe ;-)



Other news... Michael has been learning to help out around the house. Rent is only free for so long...




He has also been charming the ladies...
 

Hanging out with friends...
 


Hanging out with some out of town visitors...

My mom and her twin sister came to visit and then my dad showed up to surprise us for a short 8 hour visit. It was a great surprise and I think my mom really loved it since it was their 35th wedding anniversary!  Happy 35 years to my parents!



We also went hiking in the canyon. Michael liked the hike, but he loved slurping on the Camelback even more.

I also turned 21 (plus or minus 10 or so years) so I got some really great gifts and among them was a really cool new toy, jogger/bike trailer from Gabe's parents. Here's a pic of Michael all strapped in and ready to go.



It was a great birthday and getting older did not even bother me because I am so at peace and happy with where I am in life right now. God has blessed me with so many answered prayers. I have a sweet baby boy, a loving husband, great friends, and a wonderful family... I have much more than I deserve!

Because I have been given much, I too must give.

Grace Crowell

5 Months!

Watching a baby grow is so entertaining.  Every day there seems to be little changes.  Michael is already five months and here are some highlights of his life so far:

• He is grabbing things like a champ!
• He is rolling over which has resulted in him now sleeping on his stomach.  
• He is sleeping pretty regularly from 9:00-7:30 give or take a half hour.
• He loves his bouncer and looks like he is riding a wild bull when he really gets going.
• He loves watching the doggies and laughs when Sadie catches the ball.
• He is interested in everything and is looking around constantly.
• He gives shy smiles and big smiles.
• He is a mostly happy, easy going baby.

Here he is in his grown up 5 month old outfit :-)

We love you Mr. Michael! These last five months have been the best!

Dallas Visit

Gabe and I went to Dallas last week and stayed for a long time! Here is the recap in pictures:

Before we left, Gabe grew a mustache for the bachelor party:




While Gabe and his mustache went to a ranch for the bachelor party, Michael and I went on lots of play dates!

I got to see my best friend from high school and her very new, only one week old baby, Brayden Andrew Hilton.  Here is a pic of Michael and Brayden.  I have a feeling they will be good buds in the future!



Michael borrowed Brayden's hat for a cute pic:



Then we met up with some more friends for another play date.  I went to high school, played volleyball with, and maybe even got into a little trouble with these two gals and now we are all grown up and have babies:

Katie and Brayden (1 week), Brooke and Michael (4 months), Becca and Ryan (14 months)

Here is a pic of the play date group. We had lots of fun playing with our friends!

Left to Right (Stacey and Grady, Brooke and Michael, Katie and Brayden, Dana and Sophie, Becca and Ryan)

 

I also got to meet up with some friends from SMU, my alma mater, and their babies. Nina on the left is expecting a girl in February, Kristin had Luke 2 weeks before Michael, and Kelly had Elliot in last February. I guess it is the time to reproduce. It was fun to catch up although Michael had a minor melt down. Skipping naps makes Mikey mad and he was sure to let me know. Oh well. I guess he can't be perfect all the time ;-)

Left to Right (Nina and baby bump, Kristin and Luke, Kelley and Elliot, Brooke and Michael)

We also made the drive out to Desoto to see Great-Grammy.

Great Grammy and Michael

 

I also got to see my friend, Nova, that I worked with at my first job out of college, and a couple from our old small group and their kiddos but I forgot to take pics at these visits.

 Of course we also got to spend some quality time with "Bumpa" and "Cece."

Michael with "Bumpa" and "Cece"

 

Michael also discovered his toes and got a new toy:



On top of all our visits we went to a rehearsal dinner and wedding for Gabe's good buddy Scott Lavendar and his new wife Margaret.  I didn't end up getting to go to the wedding because after all our visits, I was spent.  I ended up getting sick, but it was worth it because it was great to see everyone!  Until we meet again Dallas...  Now I have to go catch up on some rest!

4 Months

I am a little late on this one, but Michael is now 4 months and 8 days. Here are some 4 month stats:

• Weight- 17 pounds, 8 ounces (95th percentile)
• Height- 27 inches (90th percentile)
• His eyes are still blue and he is mostly still bald.  
• He is sleeping from about 11 pm - 7 am and has a couple naps during the day.
• He slept his 1st night in his own room last night and did great!
• He has discovered his toes and likes to grab things.
• He likes to blow bubbles.
• He likes to squeal in a high pitch and makes several other funny noises.
• He likes to smile at people especially mommy and daddy.
• He laughs when he gets sleepy.
• He is ticklish.
• He is the cutest baby in the world!

A Great Getaway!

Gabe and I got to go with some friends to the coolest cabin I have ever been to up in the mountains of Colorado Springs. We caravanned with Canyon, Kaki, and their little Claire-bear who is 8 months to Colorado where we stayed at the "Wood O' Pines" cabin. The cabin belongs to a good family friend of theirs and Kaki has been going there since she was a little kid. There was zip-lining, four-wheeling, book reading, marshmallow roasting, wine drinking, fire making, hiking, fishing, canoeing, sight-seeing, conversing and just plain having funning! Now we all want to buy a cabin in the mountains! Maybe one day... One can dream... Here are some highlights of the trip:

3 Months!

Michael is 3 months old! Everyone says that it goes by fast and now I believe them! He has been such a great baby!

Here are some Michael 3 month facts:

• He likes his naps and his milk and is fussy when he is needing either, but other than that he is usually in great spirits.
• He likes to smile.
• His favorite word is "agoo."
• He has began to bat his toys with his hands.
• He is sleeping pretty consistently from 12am-4:30, 5-8, and sometimes 8-10. Then he takes naps about every 2-3 hours during the day.
• He is holding his head up like a champ.
• I think that now he knows that his hands are attached to his body, but sometimes looks at them and his expression seems to say, "where did those come from?"

It is amazing how much babies change so much in their first year. I wake up every morning thinking, "what new thing will Michael do today?" And every day I thank God that I get to be his mom and take care of this precious gift!

Happy 3 months Mr. Michael!

Girls + 1 Boy Weekend

Last weekend, the boys went camping in the beautiful mountains of Colorado which meant girls weekend at home! Poor Michael was stuck in Amarillo with the girls. He was a little to young to head off with the boys just yet. So, while the guys were looking at this...

The girls were looking at this...

We decided to have a yard sale and I can't say that it was a success in monetary terms, but it was fun to hang out with some of my favorite gals. My neighbor and good friend Megan hosted the event, and Sarah spent the night at our house all weekend, so we would mosey on over in the morning help with the sale. The 3 of us plus Megan's 2 girls, and Michael spent the whole weekend together and named ourselves the "sister wives." We ran errands, helped with the kids, made fruity drinks, ate pizza, gave each other facial masks and foot rubs, and we laughed a lot! It felt like I was back in the college dorms again except add kids, more comfortable beds, and better overall living conditions, so maybe it wasn't really like the dorms at all, but it was fun!

The Sister Wives!

Poor Michael was a victim of girls weekend. While I was in the shower, this is what happened to him...

It was a fun weekend and we were actually a little sad when the guys said they were coming home a day early. Maybe our next move will be to a bigger house so we can really live together as sister wives. That wouldn't be too weird, would it?

Gotta go do manly stuff with Michael so he won't be too scarred from girls weekend :-)...

2 Month Check Up

We went to Michael's 2 month check up on July 7th and my fears were confirmed, he is growing way too fast! He weighed 14 lbs. 8 oz. and was 25.5 inches long! He is off the charts in height and 95th percentile in weight! Even though he is growing so fast, he is healthy and the doctor is very pleased with how well he is doing. I happened to look at my baby book where my mom used to record my growth and I weighed 14 lbs. 8 oz. at my 6 month check up! I think he is taking after his dad in size.

He is a whole 11 weeks old today!

Florida!

Michael's first big trip was to Florida where we stayed for 2 whole weeks. He was 5 1/2 weeks old when we left and 7 1/2 weeks when we returned home. He was a great traveler and did so great of the airplane both ways. The sounds and motions of the airplane lulled him to sleep. When he got fussy I fed him, and then all was well with the world again. We went to Florida for Gabe's sister, Beth's, wedding where she married Chip Castle. It just so happened that they got married just a few miles from where Gabe and I got married (in Seaside) 6 years ago. In fact, we celebrated our 6 year anniversary on the trip. Beth and Chip make a great couple and I am very happy for them! After all the wedding festivities were over, Gabe and I stayed and waited for my parents, bother (Kevin), and sister-in-law (Kristen) to meet us in Florida. We were supposed to go on this trip last year, but the oil spills delayed our plans so it ended up working perfectly this year for us to go on an extended vacation in the gulf. Here are some pics from the fabulous beach vacation.

The Bridesmaids with Beth before the wedding

The wedding party with Mr. and Mrs. Castle!

The Skypala's and the newly married Castle's!

Auntie Beth!

Family pic after the wedding

Michael smiling (7weeks)

Uncle Kev and Aunt Kris

Out to dinner on our last night in Florida

Gabe teaching Michael to fly

We had a great time with everyone and we miss the beach! I can't wait to go back when Michael is a older and can enjoy the sand and waves a little more!

Gotta go take a bath and turn on the wave sound machine and pretend I am at the beach...